The Rarae Aves

Chapter 30- Not My Mess

"So let me get this straight," Jimin said as rested his hand on the mahogany table in front of him. They were sitting in the dining room of the castle of Tenebris. His uncle Jaehyun, who was sitting at the other end of the table, had just explained the entire hierarchy of the Tenebris to him and the rest of the Rarae Aves.

"You are the king of Tenebris, uncle Taeyong, your husband is the general, and Heejee is heir to the throne."

"That's right, Jimin," King Jaehyun nodded from across the table.

"And my mother, your sister, is the princess, making me, Jin and Taehyung princes."

King Jaehyun hummed in agreement.

"And to add on top of this, Heejee has been missing, most likely kidnapped by Lychnus, for over a month now." King Jaehyun nodded again, sadness clearly visible in his expression. That was his daughter after all.

"I just - Why? Why would you do this to us? You said that mom left because she didn't want to be involved in all of this, "Jimin took a deep breath. "WHAT MAKES YOU THINK HER SONS WANT TO BE?"

"Jimin, I didn't-"

"WHAT MAKES YOU THINK ANY OF US WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN YOUR MESS?"

King Jaehyun was looking down, no words to say. Some good guards came rushing in, but Uncle Taeyong waved them off.

"Remember how much I cried when our friend Yoongi disappeared five years ago? Well, he's standing right there. He disappeared because he's a part of your stupid Rarae Aves. We all are."

King Jaehyun visibly flinched at that.

Jimin wondered why anyone wasn't stopping him. He knew his friends shared the same sentiment as him, but his uncles? Didn't they have absolute power or something? Nevertheless, he continued.

"Remember how much mom cried then? She's probably crying five times more now. Because of you."

"Jimin, I didn't have a choice.

"Yeah, right." Refusing to hear another word that came out of his uncle's mouth, he stood up and left the room.

He didn't know where his legs were taking him. He ended up in a garden, ablaze with color, different blooms growing in different patches.

Jimin wandered to a patch of orchids. He plucked the purple bloom and stroked its delicate petals.

He wished his life were as simple as that orchid plant. His biggest worry would have been photosynthesis.

Something behind the orchid patch caught his eye. A bunch of vines covered the wall of the garden. Brushing them aside, he saw a crack in the wall, just enough for a person to squeeze through. Jimin's curiosity got the best of him, and he went through it.

Beyond the wall was a breathtaking view. It was a small creek, with a cherry tree on its bank, its branches in full blossom.

Jimin was awestruck at the sight. Without hesitation, he climbed up the branches of the cherry tree. Sitting on a sturdy branch, he took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet scent of the blossoms

For the first time in a while, he felt at peace. But the peace didn't last long.

"Thought I'd find you here." Uncle Taeyong was sitting on a branch on the opposite side of the trunk.

"How did you get here?" Jimin's eyes. were wide with shock.

Uncle Taeyong gasped in a dramatic way. "Me? I teleported!"